Battery case or cabinet.



A. S. CAMPBELL.

BATTERY CASE 0R CABINET.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.31,1909.

1,041,018, Patented Oct.15, 1912.

la M P f I it a D N O 01 J Q R J WITNESSES. /N VENTOR MM 67 514W,flLPflolvso 5. CAMPBELL 5 Y SM Q/fifwi wfi/mm ATTORNEY.

COLUMBIA PLANODIIAPH c0.. WASHINGTON. 0.1:.

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BATTERY CASE 0R CABINET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 15,1912.

Application filed. March 31, 1909. Serial No. 487,010.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALPHONSO S. CAMP- BELL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residingat the city of Medford, in the county of Middlesex andState of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements inBattery Cases or Cabinets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a disposition and securing against accidentalmovement or displacement within a box or case of wood, of a series orset of dry battery-cells, severally suitably within the box electricallyconnected and also electrically connected to terminals or binding postsat the outside of and made fast to the box and in a manner to absolutelyinsure the boxing or case against entrance of moisture thereto and topermit the battery-cells, as may be desired, to be readily removed andreplaced at pleasure.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, thisinvention is illustrated.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the body of the box or case when opened, or,in other words, with its cover removed. Fig. 2 is a central transversevertical section on dotted line 22, Fig. 1.

In the drawings, A is the box or case; B, B are the dry battery-cells,as shown, six in number; C, C are the several wire elec tric connectionsof said battery-cells; D, D are the terminals or binding-posts,connected by wires E, E with the battery-cells and otherwise, outside ofthe box, each is to be suitably electrically connected, all as wellknown, except as hereinafter stated.

F is the cover of the box A, detachably connected and fastened inposition by headed-screws G, at its opposite ends (only one shown) whichpass loosely through the cover and screw into the opposite ends of thebox at its upper edge. See Fig. 2. The box and its cover F are madepreferably of wood, oak or mahogany. The inside surfaces of the box orcasing are coated or lined with a molded or otherwise formed waterproofcomposition or other material shown at H of a one-half inch or othersuitable thickness. This composition is used in fur ther quantity andextended in the box body to constitute walls forming a series ofvertical chambers J corresponding in number to the battery cells andshaped to conform to the contour of said cells. In other words, Withinthe casing there is a body preferably in solid mass of Water-proofmaterial having a plur ahty of battery cell receiving chambers orpockets distributed at intervals therein. In order that the cells may bemaintained in fixed operative relationship the walls of the chambers arecurved closely to conform to the contours of the cells containedtherein. 7

These curved walls are found to present a very advantageous constructionsince by thelr curvature and variable thickness they form archesextending transversely to the.

' be bound to occur if a flat thin wall were relied on to hold the heavycells in place. The chambers do not extend entirely through the body ofwater-proof material but terminate above the base thereof to formbottoms for said chambers. Each of said chambers J may have a shell K ofwater-proof pasteboard or other suitable material covering the sides andbottom of said chambers.

L is a composition metal ring secured to the underside of the cover andin position to bear and press on an india-rubber gasket or ring M,continuously surrounding the upper edge of the box-body and held in agroove N, of proper shape, of .a composition metal ring 0 surroundingand attached to said uped edge of the box-body.

P is a downward projecting composition metal flange surrounding andsecured to the edge of the cover and all such that when the cover is inplace said flange will overlap, preferably closely, the several sides ofthe box, see Fig. 2.

Q is a chamber within the box above the battery-cells formed by thetermination of the cell containing walls beneath the top of the casing.In this chamber are located the several electric wire-connections beforedescribed and so placed they, obviously, can be readily examined andhandled, battery-cells removed and replaced, 81.0., all as may bedesired.

R is a wooden presser bar or block in the chamber Q and lying lengthwiseof the box and at rest on the upper ends of the two rows ofbatteiy-cells S is a bowed shaped spring formed from a thin flat stripof metal and located on and along the upper edge of the bar. This springS is confined on the block by means of headed-screws T at its oppositeends and entered through short lengthwise running slots U of the spring.This manner of attachment of the spring S, when downward pressure isapplied to it, permits the spring under such pressure to extendlengthwise, as it were, and on removal of such pressure to return to itsnormal position.

With the battery-cells positioned and connected, and the bar R, itsspring S uppermost, placed over the tops of the batterycells and thebox-cover applied and made firm and fast to the box, obviously therubber gasket will be compressed, packing the joint between the box andits cover, and, by

- the then compression of the spring S, the

bar R is forced into and held in position elastically confining thebattery-cells against accidental movement or displacement, andfurthermore, as one whole, as is plain, no water or moisture canpossibly enter the box at any point or points thereof.

' The number of battery-cells may be increased or decreased as may bedesired and the case especially adapted for whatever the number may be.

I do not limit myself to the use of any particular kind ofwater-proofing insulating medium or composition nor to the fact that awater-proof and insulating medium is used.

The metal ring 0 having the gasket M, has a flange O which projectsdownward and is shaped to surround and fit the inner surface of the box,at the upper open edge, see Fig. 2.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is,

1. A container for dry battery cells comprising, in combination, acasing; a cover therefor; means to secure said cover to said casing; abody of waterproof material inclosed by said casing, said body beingformed to present a plurality of cell-receiving pockets having Wallsshaped closely to fit and conform to the contours of said cells, saidwalls being of substantial thickness and arched transversely to thelengths of said pockets sufiiciently to maintain said walls upright infixed relationship, said body being formed to provide above said pocketsbeneath said cover a chamber for containing the contacts of said cellsand means to prevent said cells from sliding out of their pockets intosaid contact-containing chamber.

2. A container for dry battery cells comprising, in combination, acasing; a cover therefor; means to secure said cover to said casing; abody of waterproof material inclosed by said casing, said body beingformed to present a plurality of cell-receiving pockets having wallsshaped closely to fit and conform to the contours of said cells, saidwalls being of substantial thickness and arched transversely to thelengths of said pockets suificiently to maintain said walls upright infixed relationship, said body being formed to provide above said pocketsbeneath said cover a chamber for containing the contacts of said cells,and a springpressed bar to prevent said cells from sliding out of theirpockets into said contactcontaining chamber.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

ALPHONSO S. CAMPBELL.

Witnesses ALBERT W. BROWN, MARION E. BROWN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

